This new OnePlus 5 update fixes the flagship phone’s biggest problem

The latest OnePlus 5 Over-The-Air (OTA) update promises to fix one of our biggest bugbears with this brilliant flagship smartphone, along with other enhancements and tweaks. Rolling out imminently, OxygenOS 4.5.8 could be the best thing to ever happen to the OnePlus 5.

This premium handset costs from £449, which is a damn sight less than most of its rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and HTC U11. Despite this relatively low asking price, you get a gorgeous display, tight design work, unbeatable performance and a friendly yet fully customisable user interface.

What’s wrong with the OnePlus 5?

However, this brilliant handset isn’t quite the perfect device. We have three grumbles with the OnePlus 5, two of which – the lack of expandable storage and the water-vulnerable finish – are quite minor complaints.

Our third issue concerns that otherwise solid dual-lens camera. As you’ll see in our OnePlus 5 camera comparison, this snapper holds up well against the competition, including other dual-lens efforts on the Huawei P10 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus. That is, in every area except for video recording.

You see, the OnePlus 5’s image stabilisation capability when you boost the video resolution above Full HD at 30 frames-per-second is, frankly, rather pants. Try moving even a little bit while shooting 4K resolution video and you’ll be left with a jumpy, jerky bit of footage like below.

The YouTube comments sum it up quite succinctly. One viewer remarks that it looks like an earthquake is happening, while others state the lack of stabilisation has put them off buying the phone. Ouch.

We were frankly surprised that this problem exists at all, as OnePlus vastly improved the video stabilisation on the OnePlus 3 and 3T in a much-needed update, prior to the launch of the OnePlus 5. Why this tech wasn’t on the OnePlus 5 from release is rather befuddling.

How does the new OnePlus 5 update help?

Thankfully OnePlus has responded to the criticisms and has hopefully rectified this camera stabilisation issue with the latest phone update.

OxygenOS 4.5.8, the latest version of OnePlus’ software, will be rolling out to our handsets any day now. The highlight of this version is EIS (electronic image stabilisation) for 4K video recording, to reduce the shudders and shakes when filming at Ultra HD resolution. Which should hopefully mean a significant improvement in the quality of video shot on the OnePlus 5.

This update was attempted in version 4.5.7 of OxygenOS, which began rolling out to the handset at the tail end of July 2017. However, some users reported sudden issues with performance when gaming after downloading and installing this update, so OnePlus withdrew that rollout and is now working on the bug-free 4.5.8.

What improvements does OxygenOS 4.5.8 bring?

As well as boosting the stabilisation for 4K footage, the new OnePlus 5 update will make other improvements to the battery life. As OnePlus states, these will take the form of standby battery enhancements, as part of its on-going optimisations of the phone’s battery life.

Here’s a full list of the changes and additions the update includes:

New features added in the update

Added EIS for 4K video recording

Introduction of the new OnePlus Slate font

Updates to existing features

Updated Android security patch level to July 1, 2017

Updated the latest GMS package

Optimisations and bug fixes in the update

WiFi connectivity improvements

Smoother automatic backlight adjustment

Standby battery enhancements

Fixed occasional problem where sound is played out of the speakers when earphones are plugged in

Fixed camera shutter sound bug in silent mode (for Indian region)

Fixed missing sound channels when recording videos

Fixes a bug with OxygenOS 4.5.7 rollout, which caused performance issues when gaming

When will my OnePlus 5 update to Oxygen OS 4.5.8 and how do I update?

OxygenOS 4.5.8 will be pushed out OTA any day now, as soon as OnePlus fixes the performance issues with version 4.5.7.

Of course, this will be an incremental rollout, which means you shouldn’t expect it to immediately be available for your phone immediately. Broader rollout will begin in earnest later in August, so you might have a wait of a couple of weeks on your hands.

Stay tuned for our OnePlus 5 camera review update when this new OxygenOS version hits our review device, complete with a comparison video showing off the new EIS functionality for 4K video.